TOKYO - The Kobe municipal government said Saturday a male senior high school student from the city with no record of overseas travel has tested positive for the new strain of influenza virus A.
The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor has arranged to have a specimen from the teen -- a third-year student at the school -- examined by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases for confirmation of the new strain that could be made available Saturday afternoon.
---------- Dollar sinks to 2-month low in upper 94 yen range in N.Y.
NEW YORK - The U.S. dollar slid to a two-month low in the upper 94 yen range in New York on Friday in line with the euro's decline against the yen and the dollar that was sparked by a sharp first-quarter contraction in the euro zone economy.
The dollar sank to 94.73 yen, the lowest here since March 19, before trading at 95.15-25 yen at 5 p.m. against 95.27-30 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.
---------- Obama maintains U.S. sanctions on Myanmar
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said Friday he has decided to keep U.S. sanctions on Myanmar's military junta in place.
He revealed the decision in a letter to Congress, saying Myanmar's behavior continues to stand in the way of U.S. interests.
---------- N.Y. stocks end slightly lower on profit taking
NEW YORK - New York stocks shed earlier gains on profit taking and ended moderately lower Friday.
The 30-issue Dow Jones Industrial Average, which gained 46.43 points Thursday, fell 62.68 points to end at 8,268.64.
---------- U.S. lawmakers urging Myanmar to free Suu Kyi
WASHINGTON - Two key U.S. lawmakers are urging Myanmar's military junta to immediately release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from detention after she was being charged in court over the entry of an American man into her home last week.
"Aung San Suu Kyi has devoted her life to the peaceful struggle for democracy and freedom for the Burmese people," said Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, the ranking member of the same committee.
---------- U.S. sees N. Korea action on industrial zone 'unhelpful'
WASHINGTON - The United States criticized North Korea Friday for declaring void all contracts on a joint industrial zone in the North's border town of Kaesong.
"Such a precipitous action by North Korea would be unhelpful and a step in the wrong direction," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters.
---------- GM begins eliminating dealers by 40%
NEW YORK - General Motors Corp. said Friday it has begun reducing its dealer network of about 6,000 across the nation by about 40 percent by the end of 2010 as part of its restructuring program.
GM has begun notifying 2,300 of its 5,969 dealers that it will not renew dealership contracts, said the embattled Big Three automaker.
---------- Taiwan WHA delegation departs for Switzerland
TAIPEI - A delegation from Taiwan led by the island's health minister departed Friday for Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in the Worth Health Assembly, marking the first time in 38 years for Taiwan to attend a function of a U.N.-affiliated agency.
The WHA is the ruling body of the World Health Organization, which invited Taipei last month to participate in the WHA as an observer.
